Minister sets up probe into corruption at Zimbabwe Tourism Authority

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has formed a five-member special investigative committee to probe the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) board and management over allegations of corruption and corporate malpractices.

The committee will investigate suspicions that the board and management illegally splashed a lot of the organisation’s money on personal holiday and grocery allowances during the Covid-19 period.

They are accused of breaching the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.

General Notice 73 of 2023, which was published in accordance with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, contained Minister Ndlovu’s announcement of the committee’s appointment.

The Special Investigation shall establish:

2.1 groceries allowances paid out during the Covid-19 period;

2.2 the basis for that COVID allowance provision and whether there was a board resolution to that effect;

2.3 whether this was provided for in terms of the Corporate Governance Act;

2.4 for how long the Board received the Grocery Allowances and the total cost in monetary terms; and

“…… 2.5 whether these Grocery Allowances were given to all staff members at Zimbabwe Tourism Authority,” read the notice.

“3. The Special Investigation shall establish:

3.1 holiday allowances paid out to the Board:

3.2 the basis for that allowance and whether there was a board resolution to the effect;

3.3 whether this was provided for in terms of the Corporate Governance Act;

34 for how long the Board received the Grocery Allowances and the total cost in monetary terms; and

3.5 whether these Grocery Allowances were given to all staff members at Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.”

The committee is expected to provide recommendations on the way forward, in terms of good corporate governance.

“On both issues, the Committee may raise other pertinent issues in terms of the Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] and will be guided by the Corporate Governance Act to ensure transparency. fairness and professionalism in this assignment,” the Minister said.